Roger Hall, Author at DARTdrones

Summer Skies: Are National Parks a No-Fly Zone For Your Drone?

Roger Hall — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:50:34 +0000

As the weather warms and the days grow longer, drone pilots are looking to take to the skies in search of summer vistas, and nothing is more picturesque than our National Parks and Preserves.

Pack up your bird and hit the road, but make sure you know where you’re allowed to fly.

We’re going over the rules and regulations for flying your drones in national parks and preserves

Flying Drones in National Parks:

The Park service released a memo in 2014 that addresses unmanned aircraft use in parks, and directs superintendents “to prohibit the launching, landing, or operation of unmanned aircraft” within park boundaries. This seeks to reduce the risk of harassing wildlife, sUAS accidents, and interrupting the peace and quiet that entices people to visit the national parks in the first place.

While the National Park Service does use drones, the reasons are very specific to search and rescue, wildfire monitoring, academic studies, and aerial documentation.

Drone Usage in National Forests:

On the other hand, the National Forest Service does not prohibit drone use, so long as the drone is not operated in a designated Wilderness Area. The drone pilot must operate in accordance to FAA regulations, in addition to keeping clear of wildlife and populated areas.

The Forest Service does conduct low altitude flights within the National Forest boundaries, so knowing what flights are taking place, and whether there are temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and NOTAMS is essential for safe drone operation within these boundaries. Check out these Forest Service drone rules for further information.

Flying Drones within Wilderness Areas:

Wilderness Areas are a no-go for drone flight, and any mechanized vehicle for that matter. It’s been that way since 1964. As stated in The Wilderness Act:

“…there shall be no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area.”

Wilderness Areas can sometimes exist within a National Forest, so be sure to use an app like Kittyhawk , B4UFly, or AirMap to be certain you’re not pushing any boundaries. If you’re operating a DJI drone, your DJI GO 4 app will alert you to any airspace issues as well.

Drones in National Wildlife Refuges:

As stated in the National Wildlife Refuge’s Code of Federal Regulations;

“The unauthorized operation of aircraft, including sail planes, and hang gliders, at altitudes resulting in harassment of wildlife, or the unauthorized landing or take-off on a national wildlife refuge, except in an emergency, is prohibited. National wildlife refuge boundaries are designated on up-date FAA aeronautical charts.”

National Wildlife Refuges are often home or breeding grounds for endangered species that are vulnerable to harassment. While we may not be as affected by noise, these animals are acutely aware and easily frightened by such disturbances.

It is tempting to launch a drone for a quick video or photograph, but be cognizant of the area you’re flying in. Sometimes simply being present for a quiet memory is enough. As drone pilots, we have the opportunity to be ambassadors to the industry, and behaving above reproach boosts our positive image in the public eye.

Remember, there is always alternative beautiful skies to fly!

About the Author

Roger became interested in drone aviation soon after retiring from a 25-year career in the fire service. During his tenure as a firefighter with the Nashua, NH Fire Rescue, he serves as a member of the Hazmat & dive rescue teams. he is a sport pilot and Certified Level 1 Thermographer who enjoys flying weight shift control aircraft. Roger splits his time living in Naples, FL & Wells, ME; he enjoys training public service departments & assisting them with the implementation of UAS into their organizations as well as using drones to film at live events.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

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Why Does Someone Need Drone Training?

Roger Hall — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:43:17 +0000

Anyone can buy a drone and begin to fly it. You just need a full battery and remote controls. But, to achieve smooth flight paths, capture high-quality photos, while properly following regulations, you need comprehensive drone training.

The good news is that basic drone training is affordable, fast, and there are various options available for every student. That means that within a short period, you can easily acquire all the knowledge and skills that will help you fly your drone smoothly and safely. If you are only flying a drone just for recreational purposes, you will not need to get an FAA license.

When drone training is a must:

However, you will need drone training if you want to start flying drones for business purposes. If you want to deliver packages using drones or get employed as a drone pilot, you would be required to have an FAA license. Once you are at least 16 years of age, can speak, read, and write English, are mentally and physically fit, and can pass the license exam, you are qualified to apply for an FAA drone license.

Drone License Requirements:

Getting the license requires passing an intensive 60 questions exam that would test your ability to professionally fly drones while paying attention to federal, state, and local restrictions. With a comprehensive and complete drone pilot training package, you will acquire the right knowledge and skills that the FAA wants you to have. Then, you can easily get your license and start a successful drone flying career.

Other fields that require drone training:

Another field where someone needs drone training is in aerial mapping and modeling. More career opportunities are springing up in this field; in fact, it is predicted that more than a hundred thousand jobs in excess will be created in the field of aerial mapping and modeling before 2025.

However, to advance in aerial mapping and modeling, you would need to deliver high-resolution images that capture all the data needed, and you would have to be able to adhere to all regulations. This is why drone training is essential, and DARTdrones offers a comprehensive course to help you become an expert at aerial mapping and modeling, thereby helping you advance in the field.

You will also need drone training if you want to begin to go on sUAS missions. You may be thinking that knowing how to fly a drone and having the license is enough to put you on sUAS missions. While this may be true, it does not mean that you would effectively deliver as a drone pilot. For one thing, real-life airspace scenarios like bad weather, sudden battery damage, emergencies, can arise and disorient you in the field.

To make sure that you deliver the best results in the field, you need a drone flight planning and execution course that will provide you with skills on planning a mission and executing the mission perfectly well. Shoddy planning and research can lead to unsavory surprises like bad weather. Other people who need to get drone training include people who want to become first responders in the field of drone training, start aerial roof inspections, or fly drones during the night.

Photographers are not left out. To achieve perfect shots using a drone, you need drone training. Capturing breath-taking aerial photography is more than just taking the drone into the air and clicking the capture button. You need to know how to utilize different camera settings, how to apply the rule of thirds, and even how to use a gimbal.

This DARTdrones course on aerial photography also takes you into drone videography and equips you with skills to shoot aerial videos worthy of high-quality Hollywood films and to produce photos worthy of Pulitzers.

You need drone training if you want to start a drone services company. While a lot of money can be made by providing drone services, knowing nothing about drones would likely bring your company down. Even though you may not need a drone pilot license to start a drone business, you need to know tons about drones to help you provide real value to your prospective customers.

Drone training for your business:

You should know about drone insurance and the legal issues surrounding drone businesses. The DARTdrones course on starting your own drone business goes as far as teaching you how to develop an effective drone business strategy, and even how to find your customers. Starting a drone business or becoming a certified remote pilot has never been easier, and with the right drone training, you can get started on your dream career.

About the Author

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What is on the FAA Drone Test?

Roger Hall — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:22:57 +0000

You’re ready to join the big leagues and go commercial! Before you take the leap and sit for your Part 107 test, it’s a good idea to know what is actually on the FAA drone exam.

Getting ready to take your FAA Part 107 Drone Test? You’ll be asked to answer questions covering 12 different topics for the commercial drone certification.

But you don’t have to go it alone.

With a 99% pass rate, DARTdrones will provide the guidance and education you will need to pass the test on the first try. Let’s take a look at the topics that will be covered on the FAA Part 107 drone test.

1) Small unmanned aircraft systems regulations

are crucial to understand because you’ll be sharing airspace with manned aircraft, as well as potentially flying around people and infrastructure. These drone regulations are the epicenter of safe and competent drone operation.

2) The National Airspace System

will test your knowledge of aviation basics and airspace classifications.

3) The Drone Flight Restrictions

portion of the Part 107 exam will assess your understanding of the restrictions imposed upon drone flight in certain areas. It’s important to be versed in and respect these restrictions as they directly relate to safety, as well as accountable pilot behavior.

4) Aeronautical Chart Interpretation

is a big one. It can be an intimidating subject, but the DARTdrones FAA test prep course will walk you through the airspaces, symbols, and acronyms, and before you know it you’ll be a master in art of interpreting airspace symbology.

5) Airport Operations

and airport classifications are the epicenter of your flight plan. Towered. Non-towered. Seaplane. Heliport. Knowledge of right-of-way and traffic patterns is emphasized as well.

6) Radio Communications

may seem like another language at first glance, but it is a priority to be aware of manned flight operations in your area. By monitoring radio frequencies, you can communicate your flight plan and ensure procedural compliance.

7) Aviation Weather

is front and center to safe drone flight. Take your time on this topic. Weather is dynamic, uncontrollable, and plays a huge part in whether you will fly or call it off. You’ll need to know stages of weather systems, how to read cloud formations, and you can really geek out on deciphering METARs.

8) Maintenance and Preflight Procedures

detail just how beneficial it is to keep a flight log, and the importance of conducting pre- and post-flight checks of your drone. This topic covers the intricacies of these procedures.

9) Crew Resource Management and Aeronautical Decision Making

responsibilities fall to the Pilot in Command, as well as awareness and judgement, and effective use of resources in the decision-making process.

10) Small UAS Loading and Performance

will establish your understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft balance and stability, and performance.

11) Hazards to Flight and Emergency Procedures

prepare you to handle emergencies from flocks of birds to loss of GPS. There is the possibility of experiencing an emergency when flying a drone, and this subject will assess your comprehension of what do to when an unforeseen incident occurs in controlled airspaces.

12) Aviation Physiology

describes that while a drone pilot won’t be experiencing any G-forces, there are things to consider such as adequate sleep, managing stress, and limiting alcohol consumption before flying. Headspace and focus are central factors.

Conclusion

The FAA Part 107 drone certification is essential if you’re looking to take your flying, and your business to the next level. Check out DARTdrones Part 107 test prep study guide for in-depth information on how to study for the exam.

Happy flying.

About the Author

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Passing the FAA Drone License Test: The 6 Things Nobody Tells You

Roger Hall — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 18:43:50 +0000

If you want to become a licensed drone pilot, you will have to pass a Federal Aviation Administration AA Drone License Test, an exam that measures your knowledge of FAA regulations, aeronautics, and airspace operation, among other things.

The FAA Part 107 Airman Knowledge Test has to be taken at an accredited FAA Testing Center. While this test requires a fair amount of preparation, it is essentially a simplified version of a private pilot ground school test. Since the drone industry has been booming over the last couple of years, many drone training schools and academies have opened their doors welcoming prospective students. However, if you have never taken an FAA Drone License Test, there are things that you need to know before diving into studying.

Let’s take a closer look at some things that might not be immediately obvious when it comes to studying for your drone license test:

1. If you have no background in aviation, taking a course will make understanding new drone concepts much simpler

When you do some basic online research on how to prepare for your drone license exam, you will find a plethora of articles about how to prepare and study for your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate also known as a drone license test.

With plenty of books, articles, study guides, and even free FAA study guides available online, it’s easy to dismiss a course as an unnecessary expense. However, if you have no knowledge of aviation, you should consider investing time and money in a course. Free materials can be beneficial in your preparation, however, they can also be confusing and hard to digest because of the sheer amount of information and technicalities.

This, however, can’t be said about a course where you can study at your pace, ask questions, and take time to navigate new topics such as FAA regulations, safety protocols, airspace operations and so much more. The rules for the FAA drone license test allow you to retake the test if you fail your first attempt, and you can take a second test at no cost 14 days after the first one. If you failed the second attempt, you would have to pay to take it again.

2. Make sure you understand aeronautical maps

Aeronautical maps or the pilot’s map of the sky can be hard to understand for someone who has never used them before. It might come as a surprise, but as a drone pilot, you also have to read and navigate these maps, as you will be operating in the same airspace as all other air traffic.

Many questions on the test aim to test your knowledge of airspace regulations and ability to read and understand aeronautical maps, so make sure you understand them.

3. Divide your studying sessions by aviation topics

Since the test covers several areas, you should divide all your study sessions by topics to better understand every aspect of flying a drone. For example, one day you could study aeronautical maps, and another day you could focus on FAA regulations of the airspace.

4. Practice before taking your FAA Part 107 Test

Even if you feel like you have mastered the topic and are ready to take your exam, you should slow down and take at least a couple of test runs. Whether you decide to take a course in preparation for your FAA Drone License Test or study on your own, take at least a few tests to help you prep for the actual exam. This could help you to identify potential weaknesses in your knowledge and also get a good idea of what kind of questions you should expect. DARTdrones’ 107 Test Prep Online Preview Course is a great resource to make sure you are familiar with the material on the exam.

5. You are NOT done even after you pass the FAA Drone License Test

After you pass the test, you have to register an account with IACRA. That’s where you have to type in your personal information including your email address and your mailing address. Aside from that, you also need to type in your test ID, a code that you can find on your exam card.

That’s when the system will pair you with the results of your exam and you will need to sign a few documents to finish your license application. After you are done, you will have to wait between 3 to 7 days to get your license in the mail. For further details on how to use IACRA after passing your Part 107 Exam, click here.

6. Getting your license doesn’t exempt you from having to register your drone

Many novice drone pilots assume that getting their FAA drone license is enough to begin flying their drone, and they are wrong on that. Whether you want to fly your drone commercially or just as a hobbyist, you have to register your drone with the FAA. The agency also requires all drones to display their registration number which can be done by placing a sticker on your drone. One thing to note is that there’s only one authorized website for drone registration, and it is the FAA website.

About the Author

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